Expat-sponsored maids must renew UAE ID cards every year

Housemaids sponsored by expatriates in the UAE will receive identity cards with one-year validity, according to a top official.

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Director-General, Emirates Identity Authority (Eida), said ID cards must be renewed every time residency visas expire.

While employees of federal institutions get a three-year visa, private sector staff get only two-year visas. And their ID cards will also hold respective expiry dates, he said.

Explaining ID card validity terms for domestic helps, Al Khouri said housemaids working for Emirati sponsors will get a visa for two years and, therefore, their ID cards will need to be renewed every two years at a cost of Dh200.

However, housemaids sponsored by expatriates will get a visa for one year and their ID cards must be renewed each year at a fee of Dh100.

When reminded about the added cost to sponsors, Al Khouri said: "The operational cost of one ID card is more than Dh200. Plus the cost of staff, building and state-of-the-art techniques involved in the process...all these are borne by the government."

Speaking of the benefits of ID cards, Al Khouri said residents will realise its importance in the coming months.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abu Dhabi, currently five per cent of the total population comprise housemaids.

And 80 per cent of them are Filipinas and Indonesians.

Children under 15 now need ID card -Eida

Abu Dubai authorities have cancelled a decision to exempt children under 15 from having a national ID card and told their families to register them before the end of a new deadline on October 1.

The announcement by the Emirates National Identity Authority (Eida) follows a decision by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) that all children must produce a national ID card when registering for the new school year.

“Emirati and expatriate families of all children under 15 must apply to register their children with the national identity,” Eida said in a statement carried by the Sharjah-based Arabic language daily 'Al Khaleej'.

“This is a compulsory measure…they should do so before the end of the deadline on October 1 or they will have to pay delay fees.”

The statement said children who do not have separate passports would not be given an ID card, adding that applicants under that age need not come to Eida registration centres as applications can be submitted by their parents.

'Al Khaleej' said Adec’s decision applies only to public schools and the report did not mention whether such measure would be extended to other emirates.

Visa and Emirates ID to be link in Dubai from April 1

Plans to link the national identity card to visas will be enforced in Dubai on schedule on April 1 after it was implemented in all other emirates.

The Emirates National Identity Authority (EIDA), which is carrying out a nation-wide ID project, said applicants would not receive their cards before their residence visas are renewed or issued.

It said those applying for an ID and residence at the same time must first fill an application at an EIDA registration office before they are allowed to have blood test, which is a pre-requisite for have a visa issued or renewed.

“The link-up between the ID and residence visas is now almost complete after it was enforced in all emirates except in Dubai,” EIDA said in a statement carried by the Dubai-based Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum.

“This link will be implemented in Dubai on April one in coordination with the residence and immigration department in the emirate.”

EIDA said the link-up, once completed, would allow its registration offices at preventive medicine departments to handle at least 22,000 applications a day.

EIDA Registration Process

Registration for the First Time

Step 1:
Fill in the e-form at any Emirates ID authorized typing centers or online (coming soon).
(ID card applicant is not required to attend to the typing center in person).
Step 2:
Upon filling in the e-form, the customer will receive an SMS setting the date and place of registration.
Step 3:
On receiving the SMS, the customer heads for the Service Point stated in the SMS.
(Children under 15 are not required to go to Emirates ID Service Points)

Required Documents:

UAE Nationals:

• Original valid passport

• Original family book

GCC Nationals:

• Original valid passport
• UAE residence document (valid employment certificate, real estate lease or ownership contract, commercial license, school registration certificate, certificate of dependency, valid marriage contract or an employment card)

Residents:

• Original valid passport
• Residence or entry visa

Children below 15:

• Documents required for each group
• Colored passport-size (4।5 x 3।5 cm) photo with white background

Registration Fees:

Fees of registration and card issuance as of September 29, 2011:

Issuance and renewal of ID card for UAE citizens and GCC nationals (five years AED 100
Issuance and renewal of ID card for residents (for each year of residence) AED 100
Issuance of a replacement for the damaged or lost card AED 300
Change of details that require issuing a new card (The updated card expires on the same date as the old one) AED 150
Application of a mobile vehicle (for individuals, single family, for one day) AED 1000
Issuance and Renewal of card (Urgent Service) AED 150

•The above fees apply to all age groups.
•People exempted from fees (people under the Social Security Code – People with disabilities and autism).
•Services not included in fees exemption are mobile vehicle service and urgent service.

Registration Delay Fees for All people in the UAE

Delay in registration or issuance of the ID Card AED 20 per day, Maximum AED 1000
Delay in renewing the ID Card (30 days after expiry date)
Delay in reporting any change in the details (30 days after the change date)

Dates of applying delay fees

November1,2011 UAE Nationals
December1,2011 Government and semi-government employees (Federal and Local)
December1,2011 Residents of the following Northern Emirates (Umm Al-Quwain, Al-Fujairah, Raas Al-Khaimah and Ajman).
February1,2012 Sharjah Residents
April 1, 2012 Abu Dhabi Residents
June 1, 2012 Dubai Residents

•The residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah,with residencies expiring in 2012, will be required to enroll for the ID card along with renewing their residencies
•Delay fees will be applied to children below 15 as of October 1, 2012
•The delay charges will apply to expired cards depending on the deadlines communicated for each emirate
•It is required to renew the expired ID card within 30 days of its expiration

Important Notes for Emirates ID Customers:

• Ensure the service required at the Typing Center (new registration, renewal of ID Card or replacement for lost or damaged card).
• Should you choose the wrong service, we will contact you to pay due fees.
• Ensure that your mobile phone number and PO. Box recorded in the registration form are correct.
• The customer can receive his/her ID card through the PO Box or any office of Emirates Post.
• Ensure that all data recorded in the e-form is correct.
• Visit the typing center to edit your e-form as long as we did not contact you.
• Legal fees of typing centers are AED 30.
• If any Typing Center charges more than AED 30, please contact us.
• In all events, don’t leave your passport at the Typing Center to avoid possible loss.
• Failure to visit the Service Point on the given date for two times will cancel your form and fees.
• Should you want to change the registration date, please call us at 6005-30003
• Keep the financial receipt which proves that you filled in the e-Form.
• Children below 15 are not required to go to the Typing Centers or Service Points.
• Colored contact lenses and hand henna are not allowed at the time of registration.
• People over 15 must bring the Typing Center receipt together with the original passport.
• If the form is modified at a Typing Center other than that where the customer applied for the ID Card, the customer shall pay AED 5 as service fees.
• If you want to set a single appointment for all family members at the same Service Point, you need to ask the Typing Center staff to link these transactions together so that all family members can go to the same Service Point on the same date.
• For more information…. please contact us at our call center or visit our official website.

UAE bans credit card surcharge from July 1

Ministry of Economy has warned retailers in the UAE to stop charging fees on credit cards from July 1. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, headed the second meeting of the committee for 2011 which passed resolution prohibiting retailers from imposing charges on credit card usage as commission.
The committee also agreed on liberalising trade of 15 new products including detergents and washing powders, dairy products and juices, drinking water, livestock, feed, fats and oils, and the list will be sent to the cabinet for approval.
This is strategic to reduce monopoly and exploitation, and will enhance market competitiveness,” said Al Mansoori.
The committee reviewed a report on the advertisements for fast food outlets, and recommended that awareness measures must be initiated to ensure that customers are not misled by catchy advertising and resort to unhealthy eating, especially of junk food.
The committee also reviewed a report on the status of the Call Centre in the Consumer Protection Department, and another on the difference between the prices of key food items sold at cooperative societies and major retail outlets.
The committee discussed the Electronic System for Goods Monitoring which is expected to be operational during the second half of 2011. Currently, the ministry is undertaking a pilot phase with some commodities and the results will be generalised for other goods. The new system works through electronic links between the major trading centres and UAE customs ports, and can monitor the prices of 200 commodities on a daily basis.
The committee discussed a report on the increase of prices at gas stations and recommended to open channels of communication between the Ministry of Economy and all petrol stations with the participation of representatives from economic departments to identify the reasons for rise in price.
The committee was briefed on a proposal to reduce rental fees at retail outlets and cooperative societies. The committee recommended the distribution of marketing margins equally between retail outlets and consumers